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Did you know that the first few minutes after you wake up could set up your mood for the rest of the day?

How you start your day is just as important as how many hours of sleep you get at night. Think about it: if you oversleep and leap out of bed in a frenzied state already late for your first appointment, your day is not off to a good start and you’re likely to feel rushed the rest of the day. In contrast, if you wake up and move through your morning in a relaxed manner and feel prepared and ready for the day, you’ve already set up the tone of the day for success.

Here is a simple morning routine that only takes minutes to do, but will make a huge difference in your day:

1. Stretch & Breathe

So many of us hit the ground running first thing in the morning. Or we might roll over and check our phone for messages, look at email, scroll through Facebook, get lost in Instagram… you get the picture. But what we really need to do is just sit. And breathe. Maybe even meditate for a few minutes, if you’re ready for that. If not, no worries. Just set the timer on your phone for 2-5 minutes, sit up in bed or in a cozy chair, and take long deep breaths. Then stretch your arms up and to each side. When you get up, take a few seconds and touch your toes. Take this time for yourself to ease into the day in a relaxed and calm state of mind.

2. Pack Your Lunch

This will save you lots of money and lots of time if you do some minor food prepping on Sundays. A little planning goes a long way. You can easily pre-bake some chicken breasts, shred or cut them up and put them in a salad or make your own burrito bowl with rice, black beans,
leftover veggies, shredded chicken and salsa. Put baby carrots in small Ziploc bags or containers and have them ready in the frig to pack for snacks on the go. Do the same thing with fruits like grapes, raspberries, or strawberries. Then no matter how hectic your morning gets, you
always know your lunch is ready. Lunch doesn’t have to be an extravagant affair. Just don’t skip it!

3. Drink Water

This is really important. In fact, after you brush your teeth at night, take a glass of water with you and put it on your nightstand to drink in the morning. Drink that glass of water before your feet even hit the ground. Your body hasn’t had water for 6-8 hours and needs to be hydrated. Water first thing in the morning helps to regulate internal organs. It also helps to lower blood pressure before you take a bath or shower in the morning. Water also gives your metabolism a much-needed boost and increases the production of blood and muscle cells.

4. Plan Your Day

Even before you check your email for the day, determine what ONE THING you need to do today that will make the rest of your day easier. As author Gary Keller in his book, “The One Thing” says, “if you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.” Instead of feeling overwhelmed with everything that needs to get done, determine that ONE THING and focus on it until completion. Sometimes it’s the first thing that you do, sometimes it’s the only thing that you do. But it’s the ONE THING that will deliver extraordinary results today.

5. Give Gratitude

Wayne Dyer, a self-help author, and motivational speaker used to wake up each morning by saying “thank you” three times before his feet even hit the ground. This is an extraordinary habit to get into. So many times we have barely opened our eyes before we start running through our to-do’s for the day. When you stop and look around you and see all that you have to be grateful for, there is just no better way to start your day. Keeping a “Gratitude Journal” is a fantastic way to stay mindful of all that you have to be thankful for. It’s a great tool to refer back to when you are feeling low or when everything seems to be going wrong.

There you have it! 5 things to do every morning before you go to work. And none of them has to do with the gym! (Although working out and checking in with your Trainerize trainer is a GREAT way to continue your morning routine!)

Post this simple routine where you can see it every day to remind you how to start your day in the best way possible.

I've been a personal trainer and group exercise instructor since 2006. I owned and operated a successful women-only fitness boot camp business in Northern Illinois for over 8 years. My passion now is to help busy women ALL OVER THE WORLD fit in a quick but...